Modular pressure pulsation dampener

ABSTRACT

A modular system of pressure pulsation dampeners for use in an air compressor system. A modular pulsation dampener system will include components of various configurations, materials and silencing characteristics. Components may be selected and interconnected to form a silencer having desired physical and pressure pulsation characteristics. The modular system can be utilized with compressed air systems having various configurations. Examples of components that may be included in a modular system include a pipe elbow, straight pipe sections, a flat metal plate with a hole in the center, a perforated tube and various acoustic materials.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a pressure pulsation damper for use in an air compressor system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular system of pressure pulsation dampers and their components.

A pulsation dampener reduces the mechanical vibrations in the downstream piping system caused by the pressure pulsations originating from the outlet of the compressor. Pulsation dampers also reduce the noise heard from the compressor by reducing the pressure pulsations inside the piping system. Most pulsation dampers are designed for a specific compressor application. Each pulsation damper is custom design tuned for a specific frequency range and space requirement inside the compressor package. With the current number of compressor designs, redesigns and new designs, the number and variation of compressor pulsation dampers continues to increase.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a solution to pressure pulsations that frequently exists in compressed air piping systems by providing a modular system of pulsation dampeners that can be tuned for various compressed air systems. A compressed air system generally includes the piping and interconnecting components located between a compressor airend to the point of use of the compressed air. The modular pressure pulsation dampener includes components of various configurations, materials and silencing characteristics. Components may be selected and interconnected to form a pulsation dampener having desired physical and acoustical characteristics. The modular system can be utilized with air compressors of different sizes and configurations. Examples of components that may be included in a modular system include a pipe elbow, straight pipe sections, a flat metal plate with a hole in the center, a perforated tube and various acoustic materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a straight pipe section for use with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a 90 degree elbow pipe section for use with the present invention.

FIG.3 is a side elevation view of a reducing plate for use with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the reducing plate of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a perforated tube for use with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a 90 degree elbow pipe section incorporating a perforated tube for use with the present invention.

FIGS. 7-9 are side elevation views of straight pipe sections incorporating varying perforated tube configurations for use with the present invention.

FIGS. 10-11 are side elevation views of straight pipe sections incorporating perforated tubes and other acoustical materials for use with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a pressure pulsation dampener assembly incorporating various modular components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout. Certain terminology, for example, “top”, “bottom”, “right”, “left”, “front”, “frontward”, “forward”, “back”, “rear” and “rearward”, is used in the following description for relative descriptive clarity only and is not intended to be limiting.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, basic components for use in the modular pulsation dampener system of the present invention are shown. FIG. 1 shows a section of straight pipe 10. The pipe 10 has a hollow cylindrical body 12 with a through passage 14 therethrough. Radial flanges 16 and 18 are provided on each end of the cylindrical body 12 for connection of the straight pipe 10 to other components of the system. The flanges 16 and 18 may be provided with various connecting means, for example but not limited to, through holes for the passage of fasteners or threaded bores for the receipt of bolts or the like.

FIG.2 shows a 90 degree elbow section of pipe 20. The pipe 20 has a hollow cylindrical body 22 that is bent at 90 degrees. The pipe 20 may be made with other bends, for example, a 45 degree bend or a 180 degree bend. A through passage 24 extends through the pipe 20. Radial flanges 26 and 28 are provided on each end of the pipe body 22 for connection of the pipe 20 to other components of the system.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a flow reducing plate 30. The plate 30 has a cylindrical body 32 with a reduced diameter, relative to the size of the through passages 14 and 24, passage 34 therethrough. The plate 30 may be provided with bolt holes 36 or the like for connection to other components of the system.

FIG. 5 shows a perforated tube 40. The perforated tube 40 has a hollow cylindrical body 42 with a plurality of perforations 44 therein. The number, size and configuration of the perforations can be chosen to achieve desired results. Additionally, the perforation configuration may vary from one tube 40 to the next. The perforated tube 40 may be manufactured from various materials to achieve different acoustical properties. The perforated tube 40 may have open ends or may one or both ends closed.

The straight pipe 10, bent pipe 20, reducing plate 30 and the perforated tubes 40 provide basic components to the modular pressure pulsation dampener system of the present invention. The components can be combined to form numerous other pulsation dampener components. For example, FIG. 6 shows a bent pipe 20 with a perforated tube 40 suspended within the through passage 24. FIGS. 7-9 show straight pipe 10 sections with various configurations of perforated tubes 40 suspended within the pipe through passage 14. The perforated tube 40 in FIG. 7 is open ended while the perforated tube 40 in FIG. 8 is closed at one end to provide a partial plug resonator. The component shown in FIG. 9 includes two perforated tubes 40 extended from the straight pipe section 10 to provide a cross-flow chamber.

Various methods may be utilized to suspend the perforated tubes 40 within the pipe sections 10, 20. For example, FIG. 7 shows the perforated tube 40 supported by a pair of spaced apart spoked supports 70. Each support has an outer rim 72 having an outer diameter equal to the inside diameter of the pipe 10 and an inner rim 76 having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the perforated tube 40. A series of spaced apart spokes 74 extend between the rims 72, 76 to support the tube 40. Various other assemblies may also be utilized.

In addition to the basic components described above, additional acoustic materials may be utilized with the basic components to achieve various acoustical effects. For example, FIG. 10 illustrates a straight pipe 10 with a perforated tube 40 positioned therein. Additionally, a cylinder of corrugated, absorptive sheet metal 50 is positioned about the perforated tube 40. FIG. 11 illustrates a perforated tube 40 positioned within a straight tube 10 with a batting of absorptive metal fiber 60 provided about the perforated tube 40. Other acoustically absorptive materials may also be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 12, a modular pressure pulsation dampener assembly 100 is illustrated. The assembly 100 includes a 90 degree elbow pipe 20 with a closed perforated tube 40 positioned therein, similar to that shown in FIG. 6. A reducing plate 30 is positioned over the outlet of the elbow pipe 20. A straight pipe 10 with a perforated tube 40 similar to that shown in FIG. 7 is then connected to the reducing plate 30. A second reducing plate 30 is attached to the opposite end of the straight pipe 10. A second straight pipe 10 with a perforated tube 30 and absorptive metal fiber 60 is connected to the second reducing plate 30. A third reducing plate 30 is attached to the opposite end of the second straight pipe 10. An open 90 degree elbow pipe 20 is attached to the third plate 30 to complete the assembly 100.

The various components 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 can be combined in any number of ways to provide versatile solutions to pressure pulsations that exist in the piping system of compressed air systems. The designs can be modified to accommodate various physical restraints. For example, differing numbers of components can be utilized to achieve different assemblies with different inlet and outlet spacing requirements. Additionally, the differing acoustical members can provide a wide range of silencing options. For example, it is possible to field analyze an existing compressed air system to determine its pressure pulsation and acoustical needs. Once the needs are determined, the necessary components 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 can then be selected to meet those acoustical needs. 

1. A modular pulsation damper system comprising: a selection of fluidly interconnectable components including at least two components having different physical characteristics and two components having different pulsation dampening characteristics; and means for interconnecting at least two of the components to define a pulsation damper assembly having a desired physical configuration and pulsation dampening characteristic.
 2. The modular pulsation damper system of claim 1 wherein the fluidly interconnectable components are selected from the group comprising a pipe elbow, a straight pipe section, a flat metal plate with a hole in the center, a perforated tube and a venturi tube.
 3. The modular pulsation damper system of claim 1 further comprising a selection of various acoustic materials.
 4. The modular pulsation damper system of claim 3 wherein the various acoustic materials are positionable within or adjacent to the fluidly interconnectable components.
 5. The modular pulsation damper system of claim 3 wherein the various acoustic materials includes a cylinder of corrugated absorptive sheet metal.
 6. The modular pulsation damper system of claim 3 wherein the various acoustic materials includes a batting of absorptive metal fiber.
 7. The modular pulsation damper system of claim 1 wherein the selection of fluidly interconnectable components includes a subassembly comprising a perforated tube positioned within a pipe elbow or a straight pipe section.
 8. A method of providing a pulsation damper assembly comprising the steps of: providing a selection of fluidly interconnectable components including at least two components having different physical and pressure pulsation dampening characteristics; determining a desired physical configuration of the pressure pulsation assembly; determining a desired fluctuating pressure pulsation attenuation characteristic of the pulsation assembly; and selecting and interconnecting at least two of the components to define a pressure pulsation assembly having the desired physical configuration and pulsation attenuation characteristic.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the fluidly interconnectable components are selected from the group comprising a pipe elbow, a straight pipe section, a flat metal plate with a hole in the center, a perforated tube and a venturi tube.
 10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of providing a selection of various acoustic materials.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the various acoustic materials are positionable within or adjacent to the fluidly interconnectable components.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the various acoustic materials includes a cylinder of corrugated absorptive sheet metal.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the various acoustic materials includes a batting of absorptive metal fiber.
 14. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of providing a subassembly comprising a perforated tube positioned within a pipe elbow or a straight pipe section. 